Pan is the daughter of Gohan and Videl. The first female Saiyan descendant of Son Goku, she is also the first character in the universe with more human blood than Saiyan.
Present in almost all major series linked to Dragon Ball, it is always presented to us from a different angle. A brave and slightly whiny little girl, an old woman with a strong tongue and nerves of steel, a mischievous baby prodigy, it is impossible to describe her precisely.
Pan has accomplished her share of feats and has proven herself essential to the storyline numerous times. This is particularly true in Dragon Ball GT where she plays a vital role.
But what secrets does the character hide from us? Is she worthy of carrying on the legacy of the Saiyans? What can we expect from Pan in future sagas?
So discover without further delay:
- The story of the female character
- His personality and atypical appearance
- The character's potential
This is what we will see now in our article, here we go! 💨
PAN APPEARANCE
The history of Dragon Ball spans almost a century. However, the physique of the majority of the characters barely changes. This is particularly true in the Dragon Ball Z, GT and Super sagas. Except in special circumstances, almost all the characters have retained their initial appearance. Pan is the exception that proves the rule. Baby, pre-teen or old woman, we have seen it from every angle. 👶👩🦱👩🦳
In Dragonball Z , Pan appears a few years after Boo's defeat. In the original version, she is four years old and has completed her basic training alongside Son Goku. His signature outfit is the Turtle Island uniform that his grandfather gave him. His hair is short and his look is rather childish. She's an adorable little girl.
In Dragon Ball GT , we will be treated to several versions of the young Saiyan. The main one is that of the pre-adolescent Pan . She is wearing a mid-stomach crop top and jeans. She has a pair of toeless gloves and is wearing a pair of sneakers. The style of this Pan shows that she has just entered her “rebellious” phase. She has matured considerably, but still retains certain childish traits . 🚸
The second version is Pan doll . Following a bad spell, Pan is turned into a doll by an adversary. During the transformation, his clothes also shrank. His outfit therefore does not change. On the other hand, her gaze has become empty and she wears a clearly forced smile. 🎎
The third version is the Pan bee . The team ends up on a strange planet. The trees, plants and animals all appear to be gigantic in size. Pan is then attacked by a group of giant bees. To avoid confrontation, she makes herself a bee costume. She uses the petals of a flower as wings and makes fake antennae. The end result is closer to Cosplay than to disguise. 🐝
The latest version is Mamie Pan. This is a version of Pan 100 years after the events of GT. His hair is graying and his complexion is slightly pale. Her voice is shaky and she moves more slowly. Over time, his style became slightly darker. But of course, for a grandma, she's clearly in great shape! 👵
In Dragon Ball Super , we have the chance to discover Pan when she is still a little baby. She's not even one meter tall and has a very cute face. She always wears the same green jumpsuit and a little hat.
In Dragon Ball Online , Pan's clothing style is similar to that she wears in the GT saga. However, it changes drastically when she merges. For example, when merging with Bulle, her outfit is very similar to Videl's when she was a teenager.
Pan's clothing style is clearly urban . However, for its cut, it's quite the opposite. If you take the trouble to observe him, you will notice that his haircut is very similar to Chichi's. Should we see this as proof of closeness between the grandmother and the little girl? Who knows. 💎
After a hyper fusion, Pan resembles an adult Saiyan with green hair . Their color is very similar to that of Broly when transformed.
PAN APPEARANCES IN DRAGON BALL
Pan is one of the main characters of Dragon Ball. She therefore appeared several times in different arcs of the series. This is particularly true for DBGT where it plays a central role.
PAN IN DRAGON BALL Z
Pan appears several years after Majin Buu's defeat. The earth is experiencing a peaceful period. The members of the Z team, after years of separation, decide to reunite for the martial arts tournament. Among the list of participants, we then discover little Pan. Aged 4, she is nevertheless confident about her chances of victory. She finds herself facing Mo Kekko , a giant made entirely of muscles. Despite the difference in age and size, the little Saiyan faces her opponent and knocks him out in just two blows. 🥋
PAN INTO DBZ - ARC CELL
One of the most notable arcs of Dragon Ball is that on Cell . This part interests us more particularly in the story of Pan. We discover the dark future that awaits the earth if nothing is done. Trunks from the future also makes his first appearance. But what interests us here is the absence of reference to Pan.
Was it conceived despite the circumstances? Did she die at the same time as Videl? Is she missing? The author makes not the slightest reference to it.
We can assume that the character's creation likely hadn't been confirmed at the time the Cell arc aired. Too bad, it would be nice to discover a post-apocalyptic Pan. 👿
PAN IN DRAGON BALL GT
It would be difficult to list all of Pan's appearances in Dragon Ball GT. It must be said that this is the anime where she appears the most. This is why we are going to do things differently. For each arc, we will try to list its funniest, most notable or important interventions.
Pan intervenes for the first time during a bank robbery. She sees a young man trying to stop criminals. At that moment, she is far from suspecting that it is her “miniature grandfather”. She decides to intervene to save him before learning of the situation.
Before leaving for the hunt for crystal balls across the galaxy, Pan is put aside. Determined not to miss this chance, the little girl sneaks into the ship and takes the place normally reserved for Goten . Unable to return to earth, Goku and Trunks decide to make do. 😅
During their journey, Pan will then be captured, treated as a defective robot, elected queen bee, transformed into a doll and so on. The arc is full of crazy moments and is sure to put her in some unbearable and funny situations. 📺
Then, after Baby invades the earth, Pan does his best to resist. After Goku transforms into a giant golden gorilla (Oozaru monkey), she will be the only one able to talk to him. To do this, she will show him the outfit he gave her and a photo of their entire family at the beach. Faced with his daughter's distress, Goku will regain the upper hand and take control of her energy. This was the birth of Super Saiyan 4.
During the Dark Shenron arc, Pan participates in all the fights. However, the most striking remains the one against Chi Shinron. His negligence allowed the opponent to absorb him. Fortunately, Goku will succeed in trapping him and thus freeing Pan. This fight allowed Pan to understand that appearances should not be trusted. He also proved that she was willing to sacrifice herself for others. 🐲
During the post GT episode, Pan is introduced to us as an old lady living in an isolated place. For unspecified reasons, she takes care of her great-grandson. One day, our heroine falls seriously ill. Her great-grandson then decides to gather the Crystal Balls and make a wish that she will be cured. In the end, good old Pan will recover without anyone's help. However, these circumstances allowed Goku Jr to meet his illustrious ancestor for the first time.
PAN IN DRAGON BALL SUPER
Pan is a recurring character in this Japanese animation series. Nevertheless, some of his appearances remain particularly notable. Let’s discover them without further delay! 😊
The first is the energy transfer to Goku. Long before his birth, Pan had the power to aid in the creation of a godlike Super Saiyan .
The second is its stellar travel. While she is unable to walk, Pan manages to fly and travel into space without any form of protection. His only goal was to be able to admire the stars up close.
The last one is his altercation with Trunks from the future. While the young man returns to warn the Z-team of the imminent threat, he meets little Pan. Intrigued by his sword , our miniature Saiyan climbs on top of him and tries to steal his sword. The scene is purely comical, but remains striking.
PAN’S PERSONALITY
Pan's attitude varies between different arcs. In the Dragon Ball Z saga , we discover an energetic and determined little girl. At 4 years old, Pan is far from being a normal child. She trained with Goku and wants to test his skills. In a friendly match, she even manages to have the upper hand over Goten ! Of course, the scene was mainly for humorous purposes and the young man was clearly not using all his power.
In the Dragon Ball Super saga, Pan is only a baby. However, she plays a crucial role in the story. Before his confrontation against Beerus, Goku will borrow the baby's powers. This one, even in his mother's womb, was already emitting the power of the Saiyan race !
After her birth, she seemed to have a penchant for adventure. Baby Pan was always overexcited and unable to sit still. She kept moving all over the place and created a lot of crazy situations.
She also proved to have incredible potential. For example, after scanning the stars one evening, she managed to fly towards them the next day. You're not dreaming, we're still talking about a baby still unable to take the slightest step! 🌟
Pan is also a very mischievous little one. During her meeting with Trunks from the future, she tries to steal his sword. The context is once again focused on humor, but the scene remains very impressive. 👶
But Pan remains a newborn. She cries when she is scared or her diaper is dirty. She loves cuddles from those close to her and often tries to get their attention. The saga that featured Pan the most is Dragon Ball GT . Certainly, the story particularly focuses on Son Goku. Victim of Pilaf, he found himself trapped in a child's body. He then had to go on an adventure across the universe to find the crystal balls. But the other central character of this saga is undoubtedly Pan! 👊
At the beginning of the story, Pan is a teenager . She seems to have a strong character and high self-esteem. When she discovers that her grandfather is now a young boy, she does not hesitate for a second to make fun of him. She is clearly the epitome of the spoiled little girl, but with minimal principles. Subsequently, she proves more determined, ready to put her interests aside to help her family. She is ready to sacrifice herself for a nobler cause, something admirable for such a young girl.
After the final GT arc, we see Pan 100 years later. She takes care of her great-grandson in an isolated place. Despite her advanced age and seemingly frail body, she remains extremely powerful. Grandma Pan seems to have matured over time. She knows how to be strict with her descendant and remains very attached to them. Despite everything, his narrow-minded side remains very present. 👵
It is difficult to clearly define a typical portrait of Pan . Depending on the different “parts” covered in the story, we have the impression of facing a different person each time. However, certain traits remain anchored in her. So you could define Pan as a mischievous, powerful, determined girl and a true Saiyan in every way.
One of Pan's biggest flaws is certainly his tendency to rely on appearances. Not all DBZ villains use brute force. Some like Babidi use mystical arts or devious strategies. In the GT Saga, Pan was repeatedly beaten by weaker opponents simply because of his carelessness.
If the Chi Shenron succeeds in absorbing it, it is simply because she underestimated it. Another example, his respect for Goku completely disappeared the moment he got younger. She, who respected him, began to treat him as an equal and disrespected him on several occasions. 👶
ANECDOTES ABOUT PAN
- Pan is probably one of the greatest martial geniuses in the Dragon Ball universe. Before his birth, his energy surpassed that of some human warriors. When she was only a few months old, baby Pan managed to fly to insane heights. At that moment, his only motivation was to admire the stars more closely. ✨
- Another interesting point, she is the only one of the Saiyan race to have been seen “old”. We're talking about graphics here, not age. Saiyans are not immortal. However, they age much more slowly than earthlings. Even though Pan is more Earth than Saiyan, many expected to see her inherit this physiological trait. Yet, at the end of the GT Saga, we can clearly see what it will look like a hundred years later. Don't worry, dear Pan has retained a good part of her power. 👩🦳
- Pan is the first Saiyan quarter revealed in the Series. She mostly inherited human blood whether from her father's or mother's side. The absence of female Saiyans among the survivors leads us to suppose that the following lineages will see their Saiyan blood lose purity and then disappear. This reality leaves a bitter feeling, because it reminds us that little by little Dragon Ball is getting closer to its end.
- In the manga and the various anime, we did not have the chance to see Pan merge with other characters. At best, there was some fanart here and there, but nothing official.
- In DBZ video games, it's completely different. Depending on the scenario set up, it is possible for Pan to merge with a wide variety of major characters or to achieve a “hyper-fusion”. It is a technique allowing five individuals to merge thanks to a particular dance. However, they must share a certain complicity. The games' story differs greatly from that of the original work. But the creators take care to maintain a certain internal logic. Besides, it's always good to see the DBZ saga approached from a different angle. 🎮
- Pan is an extremely mature child for her age . Throughout her journey in Dragon Ball GT, she does everything to avoid unnecessary conflicts. She always chooses the path most likely to lead to her objective and often has to curb her grandfather's warlike instincts. Of course, this doesn't stop him from showing immaturity at times. But she largely makes up for this defect with her inferiority. 👧
- Despite the personality of a spoiled princess, Pan knows how to be satisfied with the essentials. She likes to be pampered, but she hates being judged or favored because of her family's accomplishments. Furthermore, despite a well-stocked wardrobe, she cannot bring herself to get rid of the Kamé House training outfit that Goku gave her. Pan has a very strong sentimental attachment to it.
- Pan has a unique constitution whether as an earthling or a Saiyan. She proved it during her first solo trip through the air. In fact, she had left the earth's atmosphere and gone into space in order to be able to admire the stars. When he first appeared, Vegeta was unable to survive without atmosphere. The same goes for Goku. Even after defeating Frieza, he was aware that without a ship he was doomed. Certainly, after evolving their powers, some members of the Z team managed to do without our dear atmosphere. But to see a baby get there! This little girl is definitely a special case. 😨
- Pan is probably the biggest sore loser in the entire Dragon Ball universe. Generally, after a defeat, a character will go to train or go in search of power. Even though he wants to change the outcome, he admits defeat at first. Pan is simply incapable of it. She is reluctant to make an effort, but is unable to accept defeat. This is clearly a consequence of his upbringing. Pampered by absolutely every member of her family, it is not surprising that she has become a child ready to whine at the slightest annoyance. 😭
- Chichi was a warrior before meeting Goku. In addition to her arsenal, she specialized in so-called “Maiden” techniques. Unfortunately, she put away her equipment to devote herself to her family life. Don't ask me how, but Pan seems to have some of these famous techniques in his attack repertoire. She added ki and modified some points, but the essence is there. Yet it is nowhere mentioned that Chichi taught them to him. It's definitely a mystery. 💥
- Akira Toriyama is famous for the food connotations of his characters' names. Pan is clearly no exception, because his name means “Bread” in French. Funnily enough, it can also be seen as an allusion to the pan flute. The interpretations are free and both valid. 🥖
- Did you know that Pan might not have been called Pan? Before the sex determination, Chichi had suggested calling the baby Gomen. “Go” is a prefix very present in his family while “men” is a reference to ramen. This proposal was quickly put aside after the birth of the little one. And you, would you have preferred to follow Gomen's adventures? 😂
- The martial arts tournament has repeatedly seen excessively young fighters. Generally, they were directly or indirectly linked to the Z-Fighters. First we had Goku and Krillin, Trunks and Goten and finally Pan. Aged 4 at her first participation, she officially holds the record. 🏆
- What do you think is Pan's greatest fear? Giant monsters? The super-powered bad guys? Unpredictable situations with multiple consequences? No, no and no. Our Saiyan-in-the-making hates nothing more than dancing. She much prefers to face the most powerful creatures in the universe rather than wiggling around on the track. In the same way, she hates the strange choreographies of her parents once disguised as heroes or the obligatory ritual before the fusion. We don't know where this dislike comes from, but it's definitely a fun fact! 💃
- Dragon Ball Online is an online game featuring a different story than the original series. In this universe, Pan is the founder of the Pan Fighting Network. It is a martial arts school aimed at teaching the basics to all aspiring martial artists. 🥋
- Pan was born without a monkey tail. This is a surprise given his Saiyan origins. Toriyama didn't really bother to explain why so everyone made up their own theory. Some say his Saiyan blood was too little present. Others say it's a simple oversight on the mangaka's part. Failing to deny or confirm these assertions, the father of Dragon Ball took the trouble to tell us that the absence of a tail in no way reduces his Saiyan nature. Depending on the conditions, it is perfectly possible for the young girl to take the form of a giant monkey or even to transform into a Saiyan. 🐒
WHY IS PAN LESS FAMOUS THAN OTHER CHARACTERS?
When we cite the most famous characters in the Dragon Ball universe, Pan is not among the leading group. This reality can be explained by several factors:
A LATE ARRIVAL IN THE UNIVERSE
The Dragon Ball series is one of the precursors of the Shonen genre. The characters were established decades ago and we've had the chance to learn about them over time. You probably knew Dragon Ball thanks to the animated adaptations, but the legend was written long before with the manga Dragonball . Thus, each character (main and secondary) has become iconic over the years. This is why it is particularly difficult for Pan to find a place for himself. 📣
His first notable appearance was after the Majin Boo arc . She is then introduced to us as the daughter of Gohan and Videl. After 4 years of training alongside Goku, she will come back stronger than ever. The problem is that the plot of the arc is centered on Uub, relegating little Pan to the background. 😭
She then experienced a major resurgence in popularity with the Dragon Ball GT arc. Indeed, she and Goku were clearly the main duo of the entire series. But the “purist” public did not really appreciate the issues of the arc and its narrative framework. In conclusion, this appearance didn't really help to put the teenager forward either. 💫
Finally, more recently, baby Pan arrived in the Dragon Ball Super universe. In the movie Battle of Gods , she allows Goku to awaken to the god stage. She hasn't even been born yet! Then over the course of the series, we get to know this totally mischievous little piece of cabbage. A special episode is even dedicated to him. There is a good chance that this version will win the hearts of fans. Fingers crossed! 📺
WHY IS PAN NOT TRANSFORMING?
This is probably what the young girl lacks the most. Dragon Ball has no shortage of powerful characters. But the most emblematic definitely remain the Saiyans. For what ? Quite simply because of their spectacular transformations! We all felt incredible thrills seeing Goku's first transformation. A look full of rage, a piercing scream, sparkling ki and gold-colored hair. 💥
This transformation is also one of the reasons behind the narrative importance of the Frieza arc. Then afterwards we were able to appreciate all of the remaining Saiyans marking our minds with their breathtaking transformations. Some have even offered us new forms. For example, everyone loved Broly 's "Legendary Super Saiyan" form .
But what about little Pan? Pan has never transformed until now. Whether in DBZ, Super or GT, we have never seen it sporting a special shape. There are three theories regarding the absence of transformation:
- The first relates to its time. Pan was born in peacetime. She is surrounded by her family, pampered and happy. She is spoiled and lacks nothing. During rare crises, his elders from Team Z always step forward to eliminate the threat. The Super Saiyan transformation is a response to the Saiyan's emotions. If he feels pure and true anger, he should in principle be able to awaken his powers and acquire this coveted transformation. Pan never had to deal with these kinds of emotions. So this trigger is just missing to see Super Pan appear. 🌟
- The second rather concerns the lineage of Pan. In fact, she is only a quarter Saiyan. Terran blood therefore clearly predominates in his body. For example, at the end of GT we can see her at 110 years old. Her physique is very similar to that of a woman of the same age even if she remains very powerful. The fact that she has not maintained a more athletic physique proves that she is more human than Saiyan . What if the problem was genetic? What if she was biologically incapable of gaining the Super Saiyan state? This theory remains very vague. Nothing in the manga or the anime suggests that the amount of Saiyan blood influenced a warrior's changes in transformation. However, it is a possibility to take into account.
- The third and most reliable is linked to a statement by Toriyama. Dragon Ball's dad admitted he doesn't know how to draw a Super Saiyan woman. He made several attempts, but no visual could convince him. It is therefore entirely possible that the absence of super Pan is due to the mangaka's hesitations. If so, that's a pretty good thing. In Dragon Ball Super, we were able to watch female Saiyans from Universe 6 transform. The visual was incredible and their power had nothing to envy of that of their counterparts of the opposite sex. If theory 3 is correct, there is a good chance of seeing Pan transform in the super saga.
PAN VS OTHER SAIYANS
The Dragon Ball universe brings in millions in goodies and figurines every year. Objects relating to anime or manga are being snapped up. Comparisons between characters from more recent manga are omnipresent on the internet. Dragon ball fever simply seems eternal. Pan is a very recent character, freshly arrived in this already very rich universe. She's Gohan and Videl's daughter, Goku's granddaughter and that's about it.
She does not yet have any significant personal achievements to her credit.
Please note, we are not denying its importance in the universe. Without it, there is no divine super Saiyan. Without his help, Goku would have died a dozen times in the GT Saga. Despite her young age, she has demonstrated wisdom and a spirit of sacrifice many times. When she was absorbed by one of the evil Shenrons, she begged her grandfather to eliminate him without batting an eyelid. 🐲
He's clearly one of the most endearing characters in the universe. Unfortunately, you need a lot more to hope to compete with your elders. The super series is booming, it wouldn't be surprising to see Pan grow up in it. Let's hope she has the opportunity to establish herself. Who knows, maybe this young girl will end up becoming an essential character in this major work of the manga world! 📚
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM PAN IN THE FUTURE?
Every fan has asked themselves the question at least once: “How powerful could Pan become?” » It must be said that the Saiyan descendants have often impressed us in terms of their warrior potential. Gohan , despite Chichi 's best efforts, ended up becoming an incredible super warrior. His transformation against Cell is considered one of the most powerful in the Dragon Ball universe. This moment was absolutely epic! 🤭
Trunks and Goten subsequently made their contribution. They first shocked us all by transforming into super Saiyan at a very young age. Then the exploits of Gotenks, their merged version, amazed us even more. But concretely, what about Pan? Let's start with a recap of his current exploits! 🗒
PAN’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The most striking and obvious is his trip into space as an infant! Before she could walk, little Pan was already playing astronaut. This logic-defying accomplishment is already proof of its unique constitution. It must be said that until now, no Saiyan has managed to defy the laws of nature at such a young age.
Coming in second was his victory over Wild Tiger at the martial arts tournament . Okay, she's a Saiyan and he's a human. But at the time she was only 4 years old! In addition, it should be noted that she is ¾ human so her Saiyan blood is clearly not a valid excuse.
Later, in Dragon Ball GT, Pan will demonstrate his power by defeating several opponents of a respectable level. Certainly, they are not powerful monsters such as those that Son Goku regularly confronts, but they remain martial elites from different planets. There is clearly something to be impressed about.
In terms of achievement, the young Saiyan is rather average. But what about its potential?
THE POTENTIAL OF PAN
Pan was clearly born in peaceful times. However, she has the power to defeat several very powerful enemies. Are we entitled to expect more from him?
Let us remember that the character has so far only exploited a tiny part of his potential. Pan is a pretentious and spoiled pre-teen. Except in cases of emergency, she always places her interests above those of others. She likes to fight, but doesn't put power above her social life. That's why we think the current Pan is just a failed prototype. 🙄
Following the manga's timeline, Pan and Son Goku separated when she was 4 years old. After this, she relaxed and had a more normal childhood. Yet look at his current power. Imagine for a second that she had to face periods of turmoil? How powerful will she become? The future will certainly tell us.
JOIN PAN ALONGSIDE GOKU’S FAMILY!
Despite his late arrival in the Dragon Ball universe, Pan has managed to carve out a special place for himself. We had the opportunity to see her as a baby, a child, a pre-teen and even an old woman. Whatever the age, whatever the circumstances, the young Saiyan has always stood out in the game. 🧷
She has accomplished her share of feats in the various series linked to Dragon Ball. In video games, she is recognized as an excellent martial arts teacher and has an important place in the storyline of Dragon Ball Online. Pan is not yet as iconic as Goku or Vegeta, but she has the strengths and potential to become one. Only time will tell whether or not she will succeed. And you, what do you think? Tell us everything in the comments! 🖊
